Xu Xuxian A native of Fuzhou, Fujian.

From February 1943 to August 1945, he served as the principal of Fujian Yong’an Middle School. During the later stages of the Anti-Japanese War, living conditions were extremely difficult. Principal Xu lived at the school alone and ate brown rice with the students in the dining hall. Every Saturday afternoon after school, he and many students walked from Jishan back to their homes in the city carrying clothes. Rain or shine, regardless of severe cold or scorching heat, he always rushed back to school on Sunday evenings without exception. He gave a speech to all students at least once a week, talking about national affairs, education, and the future. His content was vivid, his language was fluent, and his emotions were abundant. Everyone found his speeches fascinating from beginning to end. To help everyone master speaking skills, he stipulated that every morning after teachers and students assembled, one student must go on stage to give a speech. The topic was self-selected, the time was 5 to 10 minutes, led by upper-grade students, and took turns in order. This unique measure indeed trained a large number of people.

In the “Preface to the 1945 Graduating Class Memorial Book” written in July 1945, Xu Xuxian said: “The first rule of scholarship is to be meticulous and persistent. Sometimes you need to look far; only by looking far can you stretch out and prepare to dedicate yourself to national affairs. Sometimes you also need to focus on the near; only by focusing on the near can you adapt properly and strive to transform the actual environment. Furthermore, do not relax even a bit, and never slack off for a moment. If you advance one inch, you should plan for one foot; if you gain one point, you should consider ten points. There are absolutely no shortcuts, nor any psychological reliance. With labor there will be gain, and ceaseless effort leads to endurance. Things achieved by luck are at most encountered but not planned.” From this, we can glimpse his rigor in scholarship and his vision for education.

In August 1945, Xu Xuxian went to Taiwan to serve as the principal of the National Chiayi Senior High School. In April 1946, he was hired as a member of the Taiwan National Language Committee. Later, he served as the section chief of the Third Section of the Education Department of the Taiwan Administrative Executive Office, dedicating the rest of his life to Taiwan’s National Language and education causes.